Contents

Appearance

While its appearance is very similar to the only other living
member of the genus, the American Alligator, there are a few
differences. One obvious difference is that the Chinese Alligator
is quite small. Usually only attaining a length of 5 feet, these
alligators are known to grow to 7 feet, though that was not
officially announced until recently. Unlike the American Alligator,
the Chinese Alligator is fully armored; even the belly is armored,
which is a feature of only a few crocodilians. They
weigh up to 100 lbs (44.4 kg). Chinese alligators grow slowly,
being only 2 ft (60 cm) long after 2 years of age.

Geographic range and
habitat

While it originally ranged through much of China, this species'
wild habitat has been reduced to little more than a few ponds
containing a small number of animals (fewer than 200 individuals,
only approximately 50 of which are mature) along the lower Yangtze River in
the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui. Its population reduction has
been mostly due to conversion of its habitat to agricultural use.
Poisoning of rats, which the alligators then eat, has also been
blamed for their decline. In the past decade, very few wild nests
have been found, and even fewer produced viable offspring.

Conservation
status

The Chinese alligator is listed as a CITES Appendix I species, which puts
extreme restrictions on its trade and exportation throughout the
world. It is IUCN
Red Listed as a critically endangered species. Efforts are
underway to reintroduce captive-bred animals to suitable wild
habitats, but thus far have not met with much success.

In
captivity

Chinese alligators are quite prolific in captivity, with
estimates of the total captive population at over 10,000 animals,
mostly in the Anhui Research Centre of Chinese Alligator
Reproduction and the Madras Crocodile Bank, as well as in numerous
zoos, including the St. Augustine
Alligator Farm Zoological Park which has successfully bred the
Chinese Alligator and has been fortunate enough to release some of
the offspring back into the wild in China. They can also be seen in
the Cincinnati Zoo's reptile house.

In several restaurants and food centres in China's booming areas, young and premature alligators are
allowed to roam free with their mouths taped shut.[1]
They are subsequently killed for human consumption, as in China
alligator meat is thought to cure colds and prevent cancer.[1]

This species is widely regarded as quite docile, but, as with
any crocodilian, it is
capable of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Cultural
influence

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Martial
arts

A rare alligator form exists in the cadre of animal forms belonging to Xingyi boxing.[2] One
source states this technique was inspired by the way an alligator
can "float and swim well".[3]
It goes on to say "The alligator’s attribute is a combination of
quietness, nimbleness, and a sudden, smooth, and quickly twisting
force."[3]
The character used to represent alligator in this instance is
Tuo (simplified Chinese:
鼍; traditional Chinese:
鼉),[3]
which is different from the character regularly used to describe
both the alligator and crocodile. Tuo is generally used to
describe any number of large reptiles or water lizards.[4]